Anyone on this forum who is pickfree?

[anonymousartist]

Pickfree,

I'm sure some people would be sort of resentful to see what you wrote, and maybe not take it to heart because we feel we can't stop, but the more I try to stop, the mosre certain I am that you are completely right. And I like what you said about it resolving itself. If we desire a certain result, we must act to achieve it, no matter what our intentions otherwise.

[ashenn werk]

Hello everyone,

i've essentially cut my pickin down by 3/4 in the last year or so. for years i would dig, dig, dig, until i created a bloody mess or scar-- now i have the dicipline to leave bumps alone and let them heal on their own.

basically now i am a 'essential' picker.

if something crops up that looks totally nasty and disgusting i don't think it's unnatural to deal with it. i can't handle a huge whitehead on my face. so, when that happens, i allow myself to take care of it, but i really try not to go after any unnecessary spots. i don't think Picking is the problem-- i think my perception of my skin is the problem. like someone else said, i don't think there's a single person out there that never picks. it's just that we pickers emphasize the need to pick-- we think every blemish, every irregularity needs to be corrected (when in fact there's nothing 'incorrect' about them to begin with.)

someone on the board said once that 'pimples are natural- broken skin is not'.

that idea sort of catalyzed my perception of myself. along with my skin, i just started to accept who i was more-- down to every tiny imperfection-- from personality snags, to annoying habits, (like picking) to wayward freckles and zits on my ass. i can't DO anything with who i am not (and i am not perfect). but i CAN work with what i've got-- as long as i truly look at, and accept, those qualities as they are.

[newandbetterme]

hey gals..u started anew thread...i already had this topic..but on the support thread. oh well. no biggie.

thanks guys for your pick free advice..
and CONGRATS !!!!!! ;D ;D ;D

[cushion]

I came across this site two days ago, i am still shocked it exists , i had absolutely no idea that this very dirty,private,secret embarrasing obsession (that only i thought i done) seems to be such a real + common problem. It may be because i had not connected the depression, anxiety + phobias with it, up until the last couple of weeks. Have been talking to Dr about it, she pointed me in direction of anti-depressents,counselling + reading as much as i can about the depression,anxiety+phobias. It was it one of these books that i saw a tiny sentence about facepicking being related to OCD + body dismorfic disorder. From there i put in face picking on net ,and found this amazing site. Hello all! it is such a joy to realise im not alone ,there is support + things can improve. I have face picked for 13 yrs and its got to the time in my life where i want to and need to stop doing it. Infact i always find its most tempting after a bath as pores are open. Tonight whilst in bath kept thinking of two things- 1) the massive spot on my chin that i have been wanting to pick all day, the urge was unbelievable!
2) this website, the advice, and to leave my face alone, cos if i get that spot then the picking continues all over. Well i hope you will pleased to here that i managed to leave it alone (by a v.v.very fine line) and then ive come straight on this website, and the spot seems to have stopped throbbing! however i am aware of bedtime, i must not look in the mirror or put my hands anywhere near my face! Its one spot, one episode i got through, hope i can try + continue with the positiveness. Good luck to all, well done to those clean pickfree peeps. will definateley be reading + visiting this site often.

[maris]

Hi, just wanted to check in. I'm very happy right now, I just got to my 12 month mark.
Its been a crazy ride emotionally, but I'm figuring out that alot of this is in my head far more than it's been on my skin. I wanted to let everyone know to keep going. You really can beat this, no matter how bad picking is making you feel. Remember that every mark on your body can heal on it's own, it just takes about twice the time you expect it to. Also, do something fun today, just for yourself. Make it something separate from your skin or skin care. Start carving out some time just for fun.

I love you all, hope today becomes a great day for you.
Melissa